Success for Intelsat launch

Arianespace successfully launched Intelsat’s important I-29e ‘Epic’ high-throughput satellite into orbit (at 6.20pm EST, 8.20pm local time, on January 27) from the Kourou, French Guiana spaceport

Manufactured by Boeing and equipped with the most advanced digital payload on a commercial spacecraft, Intelsat 29e will bring high throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to North and Latin America and the North Atlantic region. Intelsat 29e will be placed into service at 310° East, (50° West) where it will replace Intelsat 1R once it arrives on station.

Intelsat 29e is an extremely important launch and is the first satellite of Intelsat’s next generation, all digital ‘Epic’ versions, which combines wide beams and spot beams with frequency reuse technology and the sector’s most advanced digital payload. The digital payload will provide customers with high levels of security and flexibility, enabling customers to access and shift capacity seamlessly to match their usage needs in a particular region or timeframe.

Intelsat Epic is optimised to provide satellite connectivity for applications including the Internet of Things, enterprise, wireless infrastructure, aeronautical and maritime mobility, and government, which are expected to provide a combined $3 billion incremental opportunity by the year 2020.

“Today’s launch represents a truly ‘epic’ moment in communication’s history, as we begin a new era of high throughput satellite services for our customers,” stated Stephen Spengler, CEO, Intelsat. “This is a testament to the innovation and creativity of the Intelsat team who envisioned the Intelsat Epic platform nearly four years ago. Through design expertise and a deep understanding of our customers’ requirements, the Intelsat Epic platform will deliver high performance, improved economics and simplified access that will expand the addressable market for our solutions.”

The Arianespace launch was flawless, and is the 70th successful Ariane-5 rocket launch in a row.